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cheltenham_villa

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Everything posted by cheltenham_villa

  1. cheltenham_villa
    QNot surprised at all by the Carra article, the United job is arguably the biggest story in football at the moment and Unai is a manager on the up. We were all upset about the lack of attention and this is what media attention really means. If I'm objective, the United job is truly huge and the squad not really that broken. They qualified for the champs league only ten games ago, the very thing we all desperately want. The club is a mess but so was ours during the Gerrard era so I don't think this would phase Unai, he's very confident and ambitious. On the other hand we've given him all he wants and I think he will value the project he's currently on and the team hes assembling. I dont think Unai will stay with us for years, his average at clubs is 2-3. I do feel glad that we've done enough to make this a decision though, years ago the villa manager would be off to united without a second thought.
  2. cheltenham_villa
    i dont think we will see any of them return. Not that they wont be good players, i just dont see them being top 4 players and thats our aspiration.
  3. cheltenham_villa
    this is exactly how i feel. If you want to make the next jump, bring it better. I love Cash but i dont think he plays in any other top 6 team, if thats where we want to be, we need to improve these positions.
  4. cheltenham_villa
    I'm a bit surprised about the calls for cover at right back and up front. Surely were now at the stage where we need to be brutal and go for improvements. I'd prefer if our investments went on players that make the first 11 better. If we can't do that in Jan, keep the money and do it in the summer. Bring in someone who's not as good as cash in January and we'll be complaining in the summer about that person's wages to not even sit on our bench.
  5. cheltenham_villa
    i think the other factor is injury time and the Sunday games. Maybe less so against Luton but in other games having 5 minutes at the end of the first half and then seeing ten minutes at the end of 90 when the game is done and dusted is probably encouraging people away. Ive never previously left before the end, but this season have left once or twice in injury time because i need to start to get back and the games are lasting longer.
  6. cheltenham_villa
    i think were also seeing the importance of the different European competitions in order to build the squad. If i compare us to Newcastle, theyve had to go straight into the Champions league and their group games are all against very strong sides. They dont get the luxury of playing a weakened side and they also have to deal with the come down of a mid week home games against PSG and then playing on a sat/sunday against a Luton or similar. I think a season or two in the conference league, Europa league helps start to channel the thinking around having a squad thats capable, how best to rotate them, getting the players used to the tempo and gametime. While id love champions league football at Villa, im not sure i want it before were ready.
  7. cheltenham_villa
    id change starts for appearances and then id agree with you. I dont see Duran or Lenglet starting 20 games.
  8. cheltenham_villa
    happy to give it a go but i want the same wages and pay out if it doesnt go right.
  9. cheltenham_villa
    its a good point, Unai isnt moaning about tiredness. If he did id suggest he has opportunities to rotate players. If the strategy is to use a smaller core group and give them more minutes, then im all for that. My main worry isnt about protecting player tiredness, its more about involving more players so that when they do play, they are all familiar with the system etc.
  10. cheltenham_villa
    thats what im debating in my head, the current strategy seems to be multiple subs late on. These guys are seeing pressure and having to get to the pace of the game. Its a bold more but involving more, earlier on may allow them to build some comfort and understanding, Agree that Ramsey, Moreno may see more game time.
  11. cheltenham_villa
    the thing that surprised me was the changes are probably coming nearer to 80 minutes in games that were comfortable. against Luton we saw Tielemans and Carlos on 79 mins, Donk and Traore on 90 mins all @ 3 nil. against West Ham we saw Bailey and Tielemans after the 76 minute at 3-1 against Brighton we saw Ramsey on 57 but Duran and Tielemans not introduced until 79th and 90th minutes respectively when we were 4-1. At home we certainly have more changes to introduce the squad, save some tired legs and give opportunities for more to learn about games under Unai. I continue to respect his approach, just a surprise to me.
  12. cheltenham_villa
    at risk of sounding like im moaning (im not i love Unai), one thing that has surprised me is how slowly we are using the bench. At home we have been 3-4 goals clear in a number of games early on, often by 60 minute mark. Seems strange that we are not bringing on more subs at that point, a good chance to rest players and integrate the squad more. Like many others, i watched Dendonkers intro yesterday nervously. But if we need to trust him in Unais system then he need low pressure minutes when opportunities present themselves.
  13. cheltenham_villa
    I like him and i think hes contributing well to the team. Positives for me are: Drives at the defence. Great positioning when we are in transition, very similar to Mcginn he occupies the space between Midfield and the forward line. Hes very good at dragging the full back forward which gives Watkins lots of room to run in behind. Hes been a very good outlet for Emi because of his size. The issues for are really his numbers. Hes isnt contributing with goals and assists, Bailey and Youri are sat on the bench and are surely asking Unai what they do to do to start a game. When fit Ramsey will be doing similar. Its a great problem for us to have IMO.
  14. cheltenham_villa
    After the Mcginn free kick goal I'm sure I saw one or two of the players go over a celebrate with Austin
  15. cheltenham_villa
    Great combination with Diaby. Love to see Baileys confidence when wide and it really helped to stretch the Luton defence. Thought he was going to start today.
  16. cheltenham_villa
    on one hand, 24 games sounds possible, one the other only the top 2 would normally get that and I dont believe we will finish there. Worth remembering that we are averaging 2 points a game but are not currently in the top 4, so as well as maintaining that, we also need others to drop. For us to get over 2 points a game, we will need to earn some points against the top 4. if we lose all 8, having dropped points to newcastle and Wolves, we could only afford to drop points in 3 more games. Thats why i think points against those are so important. We cant afford to lose the arsenal and city games at home, fwiw i dont think we will.
  17. cheltenham_villa
    I thought to be fair that he picked up his man in the middle and the spare man should have been picked up by the left back. He then has a decision to be made and i assume thought the player didnt have the quality to beat Martinez from there.
  18. cheltenham_villa
    I think Bailey has often felt part of it, the fans reaction to him has always been luke warm. A player like Bailey in an Emery system might not always get a defined role, I think Unai has asked him to play in 4 different positions, sometimes thats to find what fits best, some times its to fit around others. I think he often gets judged unfairly. One thing that surprised me over the summer was Diaby talking about the influence Bailey had on him coming to VP, he couldnt talk strongly enough. It showed me that the fans often know very little about the player and how hes feeling.
  19. cheltenham_villa
    Generally, only the top 2 sides in the league will win 24 games or more in a season. Would put us in a great space but for me its probably a tough ask. We need to take some points off City, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool.
  20. cheltenham_villa
    Really impressed so far. Looks composed, great positioning and solid on the ball.
  21. cheltenham_villa
    I think possibly our squad players have been some of our best. Lenglet, Carlos, tielemans and Bailey all excellent I think
  22. cheltenham_villa
    Excellent first half. Great goal, looked a threat and brilliant tracking back.
  23. cheltenham_villa
    Kits again seem to be holding up much better. Noticeably less sweaty.
  24. cheltenham_villa
    great, cant wait to battle my way up the m5 and m6 on a friday evening before xmas.
  25. cheltenham_villa
    yeah i think the same, especially at home he seems great at stretching defences. I just dont quite see Zaniolo as the same as the others you listed. Bailey in a front 3 can be useful in a game where we want lots of width. Zaniolo seems brilliant when were stretched as he get the space between midfield and forwards. Not sure what to expect tonight tbh
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